Sim card use and multi-authentication or purchase verification

I had a similar problem with online access to my account via the web. Authentication codes had to come via a phone number listed on my account. Delivery options were through voice calls or text..

Two workarounds that I can think of.

• Get a google voice number and install the app on your phone. This will allow you to get texts, calls and check voicemail while overseas. You do need to periodically use the number or google will deactivate the number. Supposedly google is making changes to this service later this year.

• Get a SIM card via eBay or amazon before you leave. This should let you know your new phone number in advance. Set that number up as an option for receiving authentication codes. Note some banks may not allow the use of foreign numbers.

Would the google voice be in addition to or instead of a sims card?

In order to use google voice you need a data connection thought WiFi or cellular data. So if you can survive on WiFi only then no SIM card is needed. But cellular data is fairly cheap in Europe so I would get the SIM.

For my upcoming trip, I'm bringing 2 phones - my current one and my old one. I always do that for backup anyway. What's new this trip is that I've bought a Vodafone UK SIM that I've activated in my "old" phone. I'll still have my US phone with it's domestic SIM.

If I found myself out and about making a purchase that required a text to my US phone (and assuming I was carrying it....not entirely sure that will be the case) I could turn off airplane mode on that phone momentarily to receive the text. Since an incoming text is free, as long as I have data turned off it shouldn't be a big deal.

If you didn't want to have 2 phones, you could carry your US SIM with you and swap it back into your phone to receive the text. The purchase would have to be pretty special to be worth that!

Thank you for the great suggestions. I think next trip I'll try the google voice with a sims as you're right, the sims is pretty affordable in Europe.

@ Doug - well I'll have to get myself well-versed in Xpay apps as I have never used any. And what does "dual sims" mean? How would I even know if my apple phone even has this?

Thanks to all for the great ideas.

when you pull out the sim carrier from the side of the phone are two little frames for sims or just one?

Another option for some is that many verification apps also allow use of an email, that you should be able to access on your European SIM enabled phone.

@Nigel - looks like I only have 1 slot. I have an 8S so it's not that old - haven't even finished paying for it yet lol! But you all have given me great ideas to try next time. With tightening cyber security, I'm sure MAV will become more & more common.

Thank you all!
Joann

Only iPhones higher than 4S have access to Apple Pay.

I do have an IPhone and live in the US. Is “wallet” the same thing as Apple Pay? I don’t see any icons that say Apple Pay. I guess I need to get up to speed on all this. I always hate the setup on anything technology related but once it’s done I wonder how I ever lived without it!

which iPhone do you have? Have you set up fingerprints or face recognition?

Hi. Sorry for the delayed response. I’m down in Florida this week moving my daughters into off campus housing.

@Nigel-8S plus. Yes to fingerprint, no to face recognition.

Thanks!

with fingerprint you are good to go as soon as you set up Apple Pay and add a card or two.

Awesome-thank you!

Joanne, we use google voice for the authentaion code. Especially important since we live in Italy. Capital One, Citi bank and Wells Fargo use text, not email.

Since you do not want to close your Us Cellular plan, you will need to get a google voice phone #, but do NOT port your cellular # to GV. Then change the phone number on any accounts you may use in Europe to the google voice, at least while you are traveling. I believe you may be able to forward calls and texts from your cell to google voice#, but have not personally done that.

For any text, missed call, or voice mail, you will receive an email, you will also see new activity in the google voice app.

Also download the google hangouts app. This allows you to call your bank (even 800 #s) on the google voice number (so easier for banks to confirm your identity, providing your accounts reflect the google voice #). I had to call capital One to activate a debit card this week on hangouts. While I was on the phone, they sent text with code, which I received via GV, then verbally gave them code.
Hangouts works with your SIM card or on WiFi.

Hi Karen, Thanks for the google voice & hangout apps suggestion. I have received a lot of great suggestions here and am sure I'll be able to figure out a solution next time. Re: Capital One - that is what is what I mainly use and they actually send me a text and an email for every international or questionable transaction. But yes, for the verification code it is a text. It wouldn't let me change it during the transaction, which does make sense, so next time I'll have to change it ahead of time.

Thanks!